Pat Herrity | FFXnow

Officials weigh options for safer Lee Chapel Road, as community calls for more action after fatal crash

Published January 19, 2023 at 9:30AM

Optical speed bars intended to slow down drivers have been installed on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station (via Pat Herrity/Twitter)

Calls for safety improvements on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station have resurfaced in the wake of last week’s car crash that killed two teens and put a third in the hospital.

As an online petition urging Fairfax County to prioritize regular maintenance and new safety features surpassed 12,000 signatures, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity — who represents the area — met with state and county transportation staff to discuss short, mid and long-term options for addressing long-standing safety concerns.

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Fairfax County warns budget could be ‘challenging’ due to slowing real estate market, rising staff costs

By Matt Blitz

Published November 29, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated November 30, 2022 at 1:15PM

The Fairfax County logo is shown on the front of the Fairfax County Government Center building at 12000 Government Center Parkway. (Staff photo by David Taube)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m. on 11/30/2022) Local officials are already preparing for “one of the most challenging” budget talks in years due to inflation, the changing real estate market, and staff retention challenges.

Right before the Thanksgiving holiday, Fairfax County staff offered supervisors and the school board an early look at projected revenues, expenditures, and points of potential discussion as the county and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) prepare to release proposed budgets early next year.

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Equity concerns pauses county’s push to develop sports tourism facilities

By Matt Blitz

Published October 21, 2022 at 10:30AM

Kids play soccer on a synthetic turf (via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Concerns over equity and the recommendation of specific sites have delayed Fairfax County’s push into sports tourism.

At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed that the county start advertising that it’s seeking proposals from private entities to develop sports tourism facilities.

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County board again rejects proposed ban on giving money to people on street medians

By Matt Blitz

Published October 19, 2022 at 10:15AM

A median on Route 123 at International Drive in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is once again discussing how to discourage “panhandling” while also declining — at least for the moment — to make it illegal to engage with anyone in a county-owned road or median.

The subject was revived at last week’s board meeting by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity after cropping up a number of times over the last several years.

News

Local tech entrepreneur Albert Vega announces bid for Springfield District Supervisor

By Matt Blitz

Published September 15, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:50PM

Albert Vega, Democrat running for the Springfield District Supervisor seat (photo courtesy of Albert Vega's campaign)

(Updated, 4:10 pm) Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity has gotten his first challenger in next year’s Board of Supervisors race.

Albert Vega, the co-founder of the local tech business Building Momentum, announced earlier this week in a press release and video that he’s set to run in the Democratic Primary in June 2023 for the Springfield seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

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Fairfax County board votes to rename Lee-Jackson, Lee highways

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 14, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated June 15, 2023 at 2:19PM

A road sign for Lee Highway, also known as Route 29, in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lee and Lee-Jackson highways may officially no more.

In a 9-1 decision, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to change names of Lee and Lee-Jackson highways to Route 29 and Route 50 respectively.

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Fairfax County board directs staff to consider fairness of sports tourism projects

By David Taube

Published May 26, 2022 at 1:30PM

Kids play soccer on a synthetic turf (via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Fairfax County is exploring how private partnerships could bring more sports facilities to the area, but the five-year journey has now been slightly prolonged by an additional step.

The Board of Supervisors passed a measure on Tuesday (May 24) directing Fairfax County Park Authority and Neighborhood and Community Services staff to address racial and social equity issues when evaluating potential projects with input from Chief Equity Officer Karla Bruce and her team.

Countywide

County doubles affordable housing goal for 2034

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 23, 2022 at 9:45AM

The Fairfax County logo is shown on the front of the Fairfax County Government Center building at 12000 Government Center Parkway. (Staff photo by David Taube)

In an aggressive move, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to amp up its affordable housing goals.

Through a motion introduced by Chairman Jeff McKay and Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, the board set a new goal of 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. The previous target, set in 2019, was 5,000 new units in 15 years.

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Supervisor Herrity suggests giving Fairfax County police higher raises

By David Taube

Published March 8, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated November 20, 2024 at 5:35PM

Fairfax County police cruiser (via FCPD/Facebook)

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity wants police to get paid more, citing concerns over vacancies and burnout.

In an email and during a Board of Supervisors meeting today (Tuesday), Herrity called for the county to allocate $20 million to increase salaries by 10% for Fairfax County Police Department employees with the rank of second lieutenant and below in the upcoming budget.